Code dater



Nov. 20, 1962 F, M VICKER 3,064,566

CODE DATER Filed Aug. 3, 1959 ited States Patent Oiiice 3,64,566Patented Nov. 26, 1%52 spouses cons eArER Robert F. McVielrer, Anderson,Ind., assiguor to Lynch This invention relates to a code daterparticularly adapted for dating cartons passing through a cartoningmachine.

One object of the invention is to provide a code dater including a datestamp holder which may be readily snapped out of and back into position,thus reducing the down time necessary to effect a change of code date toa minimum, particularly when two of the holders are used, one with thenew date stamps to replace one that is removed, after which the date ofthe removed holder may be changed whenever convenient for use thefollowing day. Thus the cartoning machine is not out of service whilesuch change is being effected.

Another object is to provide a date stamp holder carrier and a datestamp holder so associated with each other that the holder may bereadily snapped out of position with respect to the carrier and snappedback into position again without the necessity of removing and/ orreplacing a fastening means such as screws or the like.

More particularly it is my object to provide a date stamp holder thathas a tongue and groove cooperation with a date stamp carrier, combinedwith a dovetailed connection at one end of the date stamp holder and aspring detent connection at the other end permitting the introduction ofa screw driver or the like to pry the holder out of the carrier, thedovetailed connection and opposed spring detent eificiently holding theholder in position with respect to the carrier when it is re-inserted.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mycode dater, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated in detail on the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an end elevation of a date stamp holder carrier and anopposed backup roller, with my improved date stamp holder associatedwith the carrier, and illustrates the operation of the dater on acarton;

FIG. 2 is a side view as taken from the right side of FIG. 1 showing theupper part in cross section for illustrating details;

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the removaloperation of the holder relative to the carrier;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1showing further details; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the date stamp holder.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral toindicate in general a date stamp holder and 12 a date stam holdercarrier. The holder 12 is suitably clamped to a rotating shaft 14 thatrotates once for each carton C fed through a wrapping machine, and isopposed by a backup roller 16. The roller 16 preferably has a hardrubber face 18 to absorb the shock of multiple cartons passing thoughthe machine and prevent excessive wear on the dating dies. It also evensout the difference in height of the dies and gives a uniform datingimprint on the carton C.

The backup roller 16 is rotatable on a bearing sleeve 28 that has aneccentric bore surrounding a stationary shaft 20. The sleeve 28 isprovided with a clamp block 22, clamp screw 24 and clamp nut 26 to clampthe sleeve 28 in any desired adjusted position on the shaft 20, thuspermitting adjustment of thecoacting face of the hard rubber 18 towardor away from the carrier 12 and holder 19 as they rotate with the shaft14 depending on the thickness of the carton C and the desired pres sureof imprint of dating stamps on the car-ton as will hereinafter appear.This adjustment also permits takeup for wear.

The date stamp holder 10 ismounted in the carrier 12 by means of a key34 received in a slot or groove 36 of the carrier 12 so as to properlyalign one with re spect to the other as obvious by an inspection of FIG.4. One end of the holder 10 has a dovetail projection 38 adapted tointerfit with a dovetail notch 40 in the carrier 12, as shown in FIGS. 1and 3, while the other end is provided with a depression 42 to coactWith a detent ball 44 backed by a detent spring 46. The spring 46 andthe ball 44 are carried by a detent carrying screw 48 which permitsdesirable adjustment. Such adjustment is retained by a friction plug 49.

The holder 14} is also provided with a flange 56 with which a screwdriver blade 58 may be associated as shown in FIG. 3 to pry the holderout of the carrier so that fastening elements such as screws or the likedo not have to be removed and replaced. Thus my construction makes thejob of changing dates relatively quick and efiicient. The dating diesare shown at 52 and are received in date stamp bores 50 of the holder10, being retained in position by set screws 54.

Inasmuch as the change of date on the dater usually involves thechanging of one or more of the date stamps 52, down time of the wrappingmachine can be reduced to a few seconds by having two of the holders 10and snapping one with the old date out and the one with the new date in,after which the date stamps 52 can be changed at any time before anotherchange of date is required. Thus, I have provided a simple and efiicientcode dater for use in connection with wrapping machines, cartoningmachines and the like, which reduces date-change time to a minimum.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my code dater without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claimsany modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents whichmay reasonably be included within their scope.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a code dater of the character disclosed, a rotating shaft, a datestamp holder carrier, a date stamp holder mounted therein, date stampscarried by said date stamp holder, said carrier being mounted on saidshaft, a backup roller opposing said date stamp holder and having a hardrubber face for the passage of a carton to be dated between said faceand said date stamps, said holder having key and slot cooperation withsaid carrier, a dovetailed connection with said carrier at the trailingend of said holder which tends under operation to more firmly seat saidconnection, detent means to retain the leading end of said holder inposition relative to said carrier, an adjusting screw carrying saiddetent, said screw being carried by said date stamp holder carrier saidcarrier having a projection overhanging a portion of said carrier butspaced therefrom to permit a screw driver to be inserted between saidportion and said projection for disengaging said holder from said detentmeans to permit ready removal and replacement of said holder relative tosaid carrier.

2. A code dater comprising a shaft, a date stamp holder carrier mountedthereon for rotation therewith, a date stamp holder removably associatedwith said carrier, date stamps mounted in said holder and a backuproller opposing said date stamp holder between which, and

said date stamps, a carton may be fed for being dated by said datestamps, said date stamp holder comprising a segment having a tongue andgroove connection at the bottom thereof with said carrier, said tongueand groove connection permitting radial association of said date stampholder with said carrier and extending in the plane of rotation of saidcarrier, a dovetailed connection at the trailing end of said holdertending under operation to seat said trailing end more firmly in saidconnection and a. spring detent connection at the leading end thereofpermitting ready removal and replacement of said holder relative to saidcarrier, and an adjusting element threaded in said date stamp holdercarrier and carrying said spring detent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Cowley 1898 Price June 18, 1901 Claybourn June 4,1929 Browning May 23, 1933 Bone Sept. 6, 1949 Pannier Feb. 10, 1953Fiala Dec. 31, 1957 Farrell Sept. 22, 1959 Nitchie et al. Jan. 26, 1960

